Incident Overview
A non-instrument rated pilot was ferrying an agricultural airplane back to its home base on a dark night after completion of unscheduled maintenance at a nearby airport. The aircraft had only a magnetic compass and an airspeed indicator as flight instruments. Approximately 10 miles short of the destination, the pilot encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Loss of Control
During the flight in IMC, the pilot experienced spatial disorientation, leading to a loss of control. The airplane subsequently impacted the terrain at a high rate of speed in a nose-low attitude with a right 90-degree bank.
Weather Conditions
A pilot at the point of departure reported that the airplane headed into an anvil-type cumulonimbus cloud with severe cloud-to-ground lightning.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was an agricultural airplane. The pilot was not instrument rated. No further details about the aircraft or pilot were provided.